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Computer question.
16 years ago
My brother's desktop computer is doing something strange.
When it's turned on, the internal speaker makes a rapid chirping sound every few seconds - more or less regularly, although it will suddenly stop in the middle, then restart.
When it's turned off, the sound changes to a breathing noise - two clicks and a sigh. Tktkwssshh...
When the computer is unplugged, the sound continues for a second or two and then suddenly cuts out with a high-pitched pop.
It's not from the desktop speakers. It's not from the PSU fans or anything - anyway, they all stop when the computer's turned off. It's from the computer's internal speaker, which is bolted to the inside of the front panel.
He solved the aesthetic problem of sitting next to a "haunted" computer by simply unplugging the internal speaker, but I wonder if this is a sign of any impending hardware failure or other unspecified doom. Ever heard of this problem, guys?
When it's turned on, the internal speaker makes a rapid chirping sound every few seconds - more or less regularly, although it will suddenly stop in the middle, then restart.
When it's turned off, the sound changes to a breathing noise - two clicks and a sigh. Tktkwssshh...
When the computer is unplugged, the sound continues for a second or two and then suddenly cuts out with a high-pitched pop.
It's not from the desktop speakers. It's not from the PSU fans or anything - anyway, they all stop when the computer's turned off. It's from the computer's internal speaker, which is bolted to the inside of the front panel.
He solved the aesthetic problem of sitting next to a "haunted" computer by simply unplugging the internal speaker, but I wonder if this is a sign of any impending hardware failure or other unspecified doom. Ever heard of this problem, guys?
Have you noticed any problem with the system clock losing time? If so, then it may be that the CMOS battery is going bad, and that the chirps are warning you about that. If so, that's a pretty easy fix, since the CMOS battery is usually just a watch battery.
Otherwise, it could be any of a number of hardware-related issues, including some fairly serious ones like "the CPU is overheating".
He hasn't had the computer back long enough to notice any other problems. I'll suggest to him to change the battery, I guess.
Also, would the heat warning sound even when the computer's turned off?
At the very least, the internal speaker is shot-- not the end of the world.
Worst case scenario: Your motherboard is on borrowed time.